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THE FIELD DAY AND PLAY 

PICNIC FOR COUNTRY 

CHILDREN 



MYRON T. SCUDDER 



Charities Publication Committee 
New York 



RUSSELL SAGE FOUNDATION PUBLICATION 

THE FIELD DAY AND PLAY PICNIC 
FOR COUNTRY CHILDREN 



By 

MYRON T. SCUDDER 

Principal State Normal School, New Paltz, N. Y. 



Charities Publication Committee 

105 East 22d Street 

New York 

MAY. 1908 



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Gift. 



1 ^08 



L PLAY AS A SOCIALIZING FACTOR IN 
COUNTRY LIFE 

by 
Myron T. Scudder 

Principal State Normal School, New Paltz, N. Y. 

Among- all civilized peoples the country boy has 
proved to be the nation's most valuable asset. In 
America he has loomed into startling prominence. 
It is estimated that upwards of 60 per cent of the 
men and women mentioned in "Who's Who" are 
from the rural districts. Splendid humanity has al- 
ways been one of the staple products of our farm 
lands. 

Further, a contented rural population is essential 
to the welfare of a nation. A nation develops power 
in proportion as its people remain in contented pros- 
perity and in large numbers on its farms. Under- 
mine the welfare of the country districts, allow con- 
ditions of rural life to be such as to breed discon- 
tent, to drive people away ; destroy or even seri- 
ously injure this great reservoir of manhood, char- 
acter and patriotism, and you have a social condi- 
tion far more threatening than would be the arrival 
of hordes of anarchists. 

Unfortunately, we are menaced by the very things 
which we dread. Nearly everywhere the rural dis- 
tricts are being depleted of their population. The 
situation has become serious. In some sections 



there are not enough men to exploit the natural re- 
sources of the land. Churches and schools are less 
well attended, grow weak, and close. Things com- 
bine to work in a vicious circle ; isolation and hard- 
ships drive many away, and thus isolation and hard- 
ships become intensified for those who remain. In 
some sections an undesirable class of foreigners, 
some grossly immoral, are drifting in, and thus the 
reluctance of the older settlers to remain is in- 
creased. 

In such regions the environment is not the healthi- 
est imaginable for raising children. Indeed, there 
are many places in the country where it is danger- 
ous to bring up boys, for they are exposed to gross 
vices and the tendency is distinctly downward. 
Many country schools, instead of being taught by 
men, as of old, or by vigorous women, are, as some 
one puts it, "at the mercy of uneducated young 
girls who have never even been through the ninth 
grade." Under such circumstances schooling de- 
generates into a farce. For other reasons, too, 
many of these schools are worthless. 

From such conditions, the country boy who goes 
to the city is not likely to be as efficient as formerly, 
and this is a cause for genuine national alarm. 

Dr. Strong, writing on this subject, says: "We 
must expect the steady deterioration of our rural 
population unless effective preventive measures are 
devised. And if no new preventive measures are 
devised, I see no reason why isolation, irreligion, 
ignorance, vice, and degradation should not increase 
in the country until we have a rural American 
peasantry, illiterate and immoral, possessing the 
rights of citizenship, but utterly incapable of per- 
forming or comprehending its duties." 

In this situation it is important that everything 



be done to infuse new life and new enthusiasm into 
the country districts. Home, church, and school 
should unite intelligently to produce conditions 
which will make for contentment. Social forces 
in the country are centrifugal and expulsive; their 
direction is from the center outward and away; they 
must be made centripetal and attractive. The domi- 
nating question should not be: "How can I get 
away?" but "How can I make conditions such that 
I shall be glad to stay?" 

As an aid in improving conditions, the telephone, 
the trolley and the rural free delivery are operating 
favorably. The church and school are beginning 
to feel a new life. Economic conditions are also 
improving, and farm lands and crops are more valu- 
able than ever before. Perhaps the most comfort- 
able and prosperous class in the country to-day are 
the farmers. They are organizing everywhere, the 
most noted organization being the Grange with more 
than a million members. A rural literature is rap- 
idly developing, teeming with excellent books and 
magnificently edited periodicals. Most astonishing 
are the varied agencies which have begun to operate 
for a social uplift. The future is full of hope. 

Of course, this new life has not reached all, nor 
even the many. And even in the favored communi- 
ties it has scarcely extended down to the children 
to improve their schools and give them opportunities 
which twentieth century children must have. Child 
life in the country is often dull and hopeless. 
Nearly everything conspires to drive them cityward. 
What can be done to make their environment so 
attractive that it will hold them? 

With tactful persistence and with organized action 
considerable may be accomplished. Initiative will 
usually have to come from the outside. Left to 



themselves, only a comparatively few comitry dis- 
tricts will attempt to do anything. As we have seen, 
the school is helpless and in many sections the 
church is all but dead. An all important question 
then, is, what influences can be brought to bear on 
the situation? How can country boys and girls be 
kept in perfect contentment at home? The more 
that can be kept there, the better for the country. A 
good farm is still the best possible place to rear 
children. 

Examples of notable efforts are not wanting. In 
Ulster County, N. Y., for instance, conferences for 
the discussion of rural problems have been held, in 
which teachers, grangers, and other interested adults 
have co-operated. Better schools, richer courses 
of study, playgrounds and athletics have been urged. 
Great field days and festivals have been held, all 
tending to develop community spirit and interest in 
country life. 

Now, while many elements enter into the prob- 
lem of securing a wider and better rural life, the 
reader's attention is invited to a brief consideration 
of but one, namely, the cultivation of the athletic 
and play life of country children. 

To most people the play of children may seem to 
consist chiefly of certain childish activities whereby, 
for want of something better to do, health and tem- 
porary pleasure are promoted. But this is a very 
superficial view of the case. "Play is one of the im- 
portant concerns of life," in the country as well as 
in the city, and it must be borne in mind that play in 
the country is not so much to promote health as to 
develop the higher social instincts, to introduce an- 
other powerful centripetal factor into country life 
which will tend to counteract the expulsive features 



which have been so actively depopulating our rural 
districts. 

Country children do not play enough. Their 
repertoire of games is surprisingly small and inade- 
quate, except where special efforts have been made 
to teach them. Moreover, their few games are 
strongly individualistic, training them for isolated 
effort rather than for co-operation. The country 
child would undoubtedly play more if conditions 
were favorable. But they are not favorable to play. 
He does not know how to play or what to play; 
his parents are usually out of sympathy with play; 
and in the country schools not only are his teachers 
as ignorant as himself in regard to these matters, but 
even if the child and the teacher did know, the school 
trustee would in most cases interpose objections and 
forbid any effort being made in the direction of 
organized play or athletics. 

The case of the village boy is particularly bad, 
for, unlike the farm child, he usually has compara- 
tively little work to do, and unless he has opportuni- 
ties outside of school for athletics and play, he is 
likely to pass much of his time in inane idleness, if 
not in mischief, and life is likely to lack motive and 
inspiration. If he is ambitious he will want to get 
out of an environment that appeals so little to the 
motor side of his being. 

It was through considerations of this sort that the 
Country School Athletic League of Ulster County, 
N. Y., was organized two years ago. The purpose 
of this league is to foster all forms of clean athletics 
among country children, to teach them and their 
teachers indoor and outdoor games, and to bring the 
schools together at least once a year in a field 
day and play picnic. It adopted the athletic stand- 
ards of the Public School Athletic League of New 

8 



York City, and sent printed circulars announcing 
these to each school, so that teachers might be able 
to interest their pupils in efforts to attain these 
standards. A very attractive celluloid button was 
designed, to be awarded to each one who should 
succeed in coming up to the standard in chinning, 
jumping, and running. Its further activities may 
be inferred from what follows in succeeding pages 
of this manual. 



11. THE FIELD DAY AND PLAY PICNIC 
FOR COUNTRY CHILDREN 

In response to requests from many sources for 
suggestions for organizing and carrying out a Field 
Day or Play Festival in country districts, this article 
has been prepared with the hope that the main points 
have been satisfactorily covered, and that men and 
women in all parts of the country may be induced to 
promote one of these joyous occasions. It would 
be found a pleasurable task, which really is neither 
formidable nor difficult, and which is so worth while 
that even many times the amount of thought, money, 
and effort would be well expended. 

I. Read Up on the Subject. 

Read the article on "Organized Play in the Coun- 
try" by the author of this pamphlet, in "Charities" 
for August third, 1907. Reprints may be obtained 
of the Playground Association of America, 624 
Madison Ave., New York City. That article and 
this monograph comprise about all that has been 
written on this subject. 

10 



2. Organize a ''Central Committee." 

Let some influential man or woman call together 
a few capable and dependable people of both sexes, 
representing the various sections of a county or 
district, who are known to be active in church work, 
Y. M. C. A., school, grange, woman's clubs or other 
social organizations. Let these effect an informal 
organization, the more informal the better. This 
might be called the "Central Committee" and pro- 
vision might be made for a small executive com- 
mittee with wide powers. 

After deciding on a date for a County, or Dis- 
:rict, or Town, Play-festival, the Central Commit- 
tee may leave it to the executive committee to go 
ahead with arrangements, but should meet, of 
course, whenever summoned by the Chairman. 

3. Circulate Important Books on Athletics, 
Plays and Games. 

Secure as wide circulation as possible among 
teachers, parents, other adults, and children, of a 
number of the following books or of other similar 
books. A good bibliography will be found in John- 
son's "Education by Plays and Games." In the fol- 
lowing list the books indicated by an asterisk may 
well be bought first: 

Adams, Joseph H. Harper's outdoor book for boys. 
$1.75. N. Y. Harper. 1907. 

Instructive above all things practical, this hooli is based upon 
experience, whose aim is to show boys how to do accurately 
all manner of out-of-door things within their powers. Begin- 
ning with the back yard, detailed information is given for 
such contrivances as pet shelters, windmills, aerial toys ; going 
farther afield the interest centers in coasters, skees, kites, 
fishing tackle, etc. ; then come boat building and boat manag- 
ment ; while the fourth part of the book is devoted to camps 
and camping, tree-huts, brush-houses, etc. — Book Review Di- 
gest, 1907. 

1 I 



Arnold, E. H. Gymnastic games classified. $.75. Pub. 
privately at New Haven. 1901. 

Contents ai-e classified according to the physical and mental 
qualities which each game tends to develop. The first classi- 
fication is of games without purpose, the last of organized 
games, such as ball games, hockey, Chinese wall, etc. ; the 
intervening classifications are : general imitation, sense appar- 
atus, accuracy of motion, steadiness of motion, accurate imi- 
tation, simple reaction, discrimination, judgment. 

Bancroft, Jessie H. Rules for games. (Spalding's 
athletic library.) Paper, 10 cents. Amer. Sports 
Pub. Co. 

_ A little book of gymnastic games. Short paragraphs are 
given on how to play simple ball games, bean bag games, sing- 
ing games, etc. 

Barbour, Ralph H. Book of school and college sports. 
$1.50. N. Y. Appleton. 1904. 

This book contains rules and definitions of terms of outdoor 
games such as football, base ball, lacrosse, ice hockey, and 
tennis ; one section is devoted to track athletics. 

Beard, Daniel C. Outdoor handy book. $2. N. Y. 
Scribner. 1900. 

An excellent book of outdoor games and pastimes ; full in- 
structions are given for making the necessary equipment for 
the sports described, such as boating, swimming, fishing, camp- 
ing, sleding, and many others. 

Benson, J. K. Book of indoor games. Phil. Lippin- 
cott. 1904. 

The first part is devoted to toys and how to make them ; the 
remainder of the book is divided into games for children, card 
games, puzzles, and conjuring in which simple magic, card 
tricks, etc., are described. 

Champlin, John D. Young folk's cyclopedia of games 
and sports. $1.60. N. Y. Holt. 1899. 

A compendium of recreation of all kinds. Adults as well as 
children will find it valuable for plays and games, athletic 
sports, mechanical and chemical experiments, as well as for 
definitions of terms applicable to the subjects in hand. 

*Chesley, A. M. comp. Indoor and outdoor gymnastic 
games. (Spalding's athletic library.) Paper, 10 
cents. Amer. Sports Pub. Co. 

Games for both large and small numbers of players are given. 
Tag games, ball games, racing games, oat and bean bag 
games, and athletic feats comprise the list. 

12 



Grey, Maria. Two hundred indoor and outdoor games. 
Milwaukee. Freidenlier Pub. Co. 

A valuable little book which contains the following list of 
plays and games, viz., races, games requiring fancy steps, con- 
tests, games to teach rhythm, games of tag, games with music, 
games with bean bags, games with a large ball and Indian 
clubs, and miscellaneous games. 

*GuHck, Luther H. Official handbook of the Public 
School Athletic League. (Spalding's athletic 
library.) Paper, 10 cents. N. Y. Amer. Sports 
Pub. Co. 

A little book of some 190 pages, it contains the constitution 
and by-laws of the public school athletic league, the rules 
governing contests and championships, with hints on training, 
etc. 

*Harper, Carrie A. ed. One hundred and fifty gym- 
nastic games; comp. by certain of the alumni of 
the Boston Normal School of Gymnastics. $1.25. 
Boston. Ellis. 1902. 

Collection of indoor and outdoor games ; the list is divided 
into ball games, running games, miscellaneous and quiet games. 
Each game is classified according to grade, number of players 
required, and necessary apparatus. 

*Hofer, Mari Ruef. Children's singing games old and 
new; for vacation schools, playgrounds, schoolyards, 
kindergartens, and primary grades. $.50. Chicago. 
Flanagan. 1901. 

Such games as London bridge, the muffin man, itiskit, itasket, 
here we go round the mulberry bush, and a host of others 
similar are found in this collection. 

Hofer, Mari Ruef. Folk games and dances; for play- 
ground, vacation, school and school room use. $.60. 
Chicago. Flanagan. 

Old folk songs and the music to accompany each are given 
with directions for performing the dance or game appropriate 
to the spirit of the song. 

*Johnson, George E. Education by plays and games. 
$.90. Boston. Ginn. 1907. 

"Its first part is a study of the meaning of play, its relation 
to work, and its application to education. The second part 
is a series of games chosen from a thousand or more, and 
.iudiciously graded for progressive use. The author has wisely 
chosen the older forms in all games, thus giving the pupil 
the key to many references in literature and folklore quite 
unintelligible if he knew only modern variations of the original 
game." — (New York Times.) 

13 



Nugent, Meredith. New games and amusements for 
young and old alike. $1.50. N. Y. Doubleday. 1906. 

Mr. Nugent creates for the boy of ten a magic world and 
makes of his young devotee a veritable wizard. The book con- 
tains wonderful soap-bubble tricks, with the Nugent recipe used 
for producing immense bubbles lasting from five to ten minutes ; 
it tells how to engineer yacht races in the clouds, how to make 
sunshine engines, and how to make a circus on a kite string. 
There are numerous illustrations made by the author and his 
collaborator, Victor J. Smedley. — Book Review Digest, 1906. 

Orton, George W^ Athletic training for school boys. 
(Spalding's athletic library.) Paper, 10 cents, 
illus. Amer. Sports Pub. Co. 

Good for general ideas on training. 

Practical suggestions on how to train for running, jumping, 
pole vaulting, putting the shot, etc. A chapter on what to 
wear and the apparatus to use is given, with a bibliography of 
the books to consult. 

*Schaefer, W. G. Games for the schools and gymnasia. 
$.50. Milwaukee. Freidenker Pub. Co. 1900. 

The aim of the compiler has been to present a series of 
games and plays that require the very simple apparatus which 
may be within the reach of all ; many of the games require only 
spaces for successful playing. From the movement games with- 
out apparatus the author leads on through blindfolding games 
and plays with ropes or cords, staves and casting apparatus 
to those which require some skill in the use of the ball ; the 
last section of the book is devoted to plays with bean bags 
adapted to use in the school room. Diagrams in many instances 
accompany the descriptions. 

Track athletics in detail. (Harper round table li- 
brary.) $1.25. illus. N. Y. Harper. 1896. 

Contents: Track events ; Field events; Bicycling. 

Useful book about running, jumping, walking, vaulting, put- 
ting the shot, throwing the hammer, and bicycling. Illustra- 
tions from photographs of prominent athletes in action a par- 
ticularly valuable feature. A. L. A. catalog. 

White, Mary. Book of games. $1. N. Y. Scribner. 
1905. 

Excellent collection of indoor games for people of all ages. 
It contains old favorites, impromptu games, and those requiring 
simple preparation, as Avell as those for holiday celebration. 
All are suitable for either the home or church socials. 

4. Send Out a Circular of Information. 

Send out a circular to teachers, parents, minis- 
ters, and others, and also have it printe4 in th^ 

14 




GETTING READY FOR A FIELD DAY IN THE DISTRICT 
SCHOOL 



county papers. This may be printed inexpensively 
on- a Rotary Neostyle or Edison Mimeograph or 
other good diiphcating apparatus. A duphcating 
apparatus of this kind is essential unless there is 
money enough to have the necessary printing done 
in a regular printing establishment. The Rotary 
Neostyle may be obtained of the Neostyle Com- 
pany, 30 Reade St., New York, N. Y., at a cost of 
$50.00. The Edison Mimeograph may be pur- 
chased at A. B. Dick Company, New York City. 
Of course the Simplex^ the Schapirograph, and the 
Daus Duplicator are much cheaper, about five to 
six dollars each, and are excellent duplicators, but 
they print only a limited number of copies. 

The following is a copy of the circular used by the 
State Normal School, New Paltz, Ulster County, 
N. Y.: 

State Normal School 
New Paltz, N. Y. 
'Central Committee 

Country School Athletic League 
Ulster County, N .Y. 

"Dear Sir or Madam. — A committee represent- 
ing the Country School Athletic League of Ulster 
County has fixed the date for its next Field Day 
and Play Picnic. This date is Saturday, June 13th. 
Should the weather prove unfavorable the meet 
will be postponed one week to June 20th. Notifica- 
tion of postponement is to be made by telephone. 

"Since one of the objects of this League is to 
promote health and vigor of mind and body, and 
since it recognizes organized play as a vital factor 
in securing these ends, the committee has planned to 
make plays and games one of the prominent features 
of the Field Day program. 

16 



Competitive Games 

"Every teacher is urged to have the children come 
prepared to play at least one game. Among com- 
petitive games, Captain's Ball, Prisoner's Base, Rob- 
iDer Barons, and Relay Races are recommended. 
These games may be played by opposing teams of 
say eight members or more each. They are de- 
scribed in one or more of the books named in the 
list which accompanies this circular. 

Other Good Games 

"It is not desirable that all the play be of a com- 
petitive nature. There are many invigorating 
games in which the team element does not enter, 
and some of these are especially adapted to the 
younger children. Common examples are Fishes 
Swim, Hare in the Patch, Cat and Mouse, Three 
Deep, Last Pair Pass, Duck on the Rock, Statues 
or Steps, etc. 

"The plays and games will be open to both boys 
and girls, and it is hoped that all will be encour- 
aged to take an active part. 

Athletic Events 

"Of course in addition to plays and games there 
will be many stirring athletic events. Some of 
these are open only to girls as follows : 

"Potato race, short distance relay races, baseball 
throwing. 

"A unique feature of the program will be a 
series of interesting events open to adults not con- 
nected with schools, as follows : 

17 



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Tug of war; 12-lb. shot put; obstacle race; sack 
race. Try to get up local teams or participators 
for these events and notify the Central Committee 
before June ist, who may be expected. 

"Boys who are properly qualified, i. e., those who 
have earned their button in the Athletic Badge Con- 
test (see below) may enter Field Day events as 
provided in the following blank. Winners will be 
awarded pennants which are to be placed as trophies 
in their respective schools. 

Award of Buttons 

"The awarding of buttons for those who have suc- 
ceeded in the Athletic Badge Competition will be 
an important feature of Field Day. The blank 
given below shows the regulations under which com- 
petition is to take place. Note that each community 
should have its Athletic Badge Competition prior 
to Field Day. Choose the afternoon on which you 
wish to have this contest and on notifying the Cen- 
tral Committee a representative of this Committee 
will be sent to the school or club at the appointed 
time and help the teacher take the records. 

"Each pupil who attains the standards for any 
class mentioned on the blanks e. g., 'Boys under 13' 
will receive a button on Field Day. Please note 
again that unless he is entitled to this button he 
cannot enter the Field Day championship events. 

"We inclose a printed program which will give 
you some idea of the activities of the day. It will 
also be a guide for your preparation and the 
preparation of the children in whom you are inter- 
ested, for Field Day. 

''Sincerely yours," 
(Signed) 

19 



TITION 

rister Covmty, N. Y. 

0. Da. School 


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This competition is to take place at 
each school under the direction of the 
teacher and a representative of the cen- 
tral committee. 

Only those whose deportment and 
scholarship are satisfactory may com- 
pete. 

Boys may run barefoot. 

Only WINNERS OF AN ATH 
LETIC BADGE OR BUTTON ARE 
ELIGIBLE to enter the FIELD DAY 
CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS. 

There shall be but TWO TRIALS in 
chinning, TWO in the dashes, and 
THREE in the jumps. 

CHINNING:-The boy must extend 
bimself full length, arms straight, before 
and after each pull up; he must bring 
his chin fairly over the bar each time. 

The feet must not touch the floor or 


ground. 

JUMPING:— (See rules XXV and 
XXVII. Official Handbook, P.S.A.L ) 

RUNNING :— (See rule VIII). 




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20 



5- Carry on a Campaigx^ of Education. 

a. Have the subject of this great festival present- 
ed if possible with stereopticon views, or oil or 
acetylene lantern, at schools, granges, teachers' and 
farmers' institutes, and other organizations that 
ought to be interested in it, by some one who has 
had experience with this kind of work, or who can 
talk successfully about it. It may not be wise to 
advertise it in the newspapers for this might at- 
tract an undesirable element on Field Day. Slides 
may be obtained of the State Normal School, New 
Paltz, N. Y., on payment of express both ways and 
with a guarantee that broken slides will be replaced. 
No other charge will be made. 

b. Get experts to simplify the athletic rules for 
conducting Field Day events so that they may be 
more easily comprehended by the uninitiated, and 
send typewritten or printed copies to country school 
teachers and others. 

c. Send typewritten copies of games and folk 
dances specially adapted for use in country districts. 

d. If possible send instructors to country schools, 
teachers' institutes, conferences, boys' clubs, ladies' 
clubs, etc., to teach indoor and outdoor games, and 
folk dances. In this way the most capable children 
and adults will soon learn a number of games and 
will in turn become efficient assistants in teaching 
others. 

e. It is important that the School Commissioner 
be interested, also the pastors of the churches, and 
the masters of the granges. 

6. Provide Buttons, Badges and Banners. 

Provide some device like a celluloid button, for 
all children who, in their athletic contests, attain 
a certain standard of excellence: also banners for 

2? 



those who win in field day events. Confer with 
the Playground Association of America, 624 Mad- 
ison Ave., New York City, N. Y., about this. 

7. Raise Money for Expenses.* 

Money may be raised for badges, pennants, and 
other expenses incident to the occasion in one or 
more of the following ways: 

a. Contributions from granges, clubs, teachers' 
associations, churches, other fraternal organizations, 
fife companies, &c. 

b. Contributions from private individuals. 

c. School entertainments such as plays, poverty 
social, masquerade, sales, luncheons, etc. 

d. Candy and pop-corn sales. 

e. Let children be given the charge of a few 
chickens and sell the eggs for the benefit of field 
day. Let them plant a small patch of corn or beans 
or some other vegetable, and devote the produce to 
the same cause. 

f. Furnish each child with one or more small en- 
velopes, to be taken home to the parents and friends 
and to be returned at a given time with or without 
contributions. Of course no child should be made 
to feel that he must contribute. 

g. Proceeds from the sale of old rubbers, kid 
gloves, and papers collected by the children. 

h. Collecting ''yards of pennies." That is, strips 
of cloth or ribbon are sewed into pockets, each of 
which will snugly hold a penny. These narrow 
strips lo-cent lengths, 20-cent lengths, 30-cent 
lengths and so on, may be filled by the children and 
their friends. 

i. Rummage sale, or a sale of second-hand arti- 
cles, clothing, furniture, &c., rummaged out of gar- 
rets, boxes, &c. 

*The expenses of the 1907 field day and play picnic at New 
Paltz amounted to about $150. 

23 



8. Details for the Day Itself Must Be Care- 
fully Planned. 

The duties of the day will naturally fall under 
several heads, viz., reception of visitors, seats, toilets, 
drinking water, day nursery, apparatus and games, 
printing, refereeing games, time keepers, etc., etc. 
This calls for a number of committees with efficient 
chairmen. It must be remembered that the suc- 
cess of a play festival depends on the care with 
which the details are arranged. Experience sug- 
gests the following particulars : 

a. Provide for checking clothing, lunches, and 
other packages."^ 

b. Plan what to do for the crowd in case a thun- 
der storm comes up. 

c. Provide ample toilet accommodations for both 
sexes. 

d. Provide for plenty of drinking water. This 
will require especially careful planning. There 
should be an abundance of drinking cups. 

♦"As the matter of checking articles for upwards of 1,000 
or perhaps several thousand people is no light task, the fol- 
lowing is suggested as a workable scheme, it being the actual 
description of the New Paltz method : 

"The headquarters for lunches and wraps was the auditorium 
of the Village Hall. The long transportable benches which are 
used for seating an audience were arranged as usual leaving 
a broad aisle in the middle of the room. On the end of each 
bench was placed a large tag marked so as to cover a range of 
fifty numbers and the tag numbers increased consecutively by 
fifty up to 1,000, e. g., first tag 1-49, second, 50-99, etc. 

"The wrap tags differed from the lunch tags in color and 
size, and were arranged in separate bunches. Each monitor 
had a bunch of 100 tags whose numbers covered a range of 
50, each number appearing on two tags. After placing one 
tag on the article and attaching the duplicate tag to the owner, 
the monitor placed the article on the bench whose number in- 
cluded the number contained in his bunch of tags. 

"When the owner wished to reclaim his property, he pre 
sented his tag and the monitor knew that the article must be 
on the bench whose number included the number on his tag. 
Dennison labels were used, costing about 30c per 1,000." 

24 




THE DAY NURSERY AT A COUNTRY PLAY FESTIVAL. 



This Makes It Possible for Mothers to Have a Play Day as 
Well as the Children. 



e. Provide seats. The best way to do this is to 
get thick boards from the lumber yard and extend 
them over boxes (berry crates are admirable for this 
purpose). Let these improvised benches inclose 
each play area thus making them serve the double 
purpose of accommodating people who wish to sit 
down and of keeping the crowds from surging on to 
the places where children are playing. 

i\ Secure a few tents or booths. Let a large 
tent serve as a creche or day nursery furnished with 
cots, kindergarten tables, and occupations for very 
little children. Let there be a generous sandpile 
outside. The other tents may be used for refresh- 
ments, for, although lunches are brought, there is a 
ready sale for sandwiches, frankfurters, ice-cream, 
soft drinks, etc. Let the "concessionaires" who sell 
articles in these tents pay a small per cent on the 
receipts for the privilege, or better, let them have 
the privilege free of cost. School societies, or 
church societies may well be allowed to have tents 
or booths on the grounds that day and sell refresh- 
ments. 

A tent may be fitted up for the display of games 
for school and home, showing inexpensive equip- 
ments, and by charts, photographs, and other ex- 
hibits showing how an interesting program may be 
organized for passing an evening without dancing 
or card playing, whether in home, day school or 
Sunday school, or place of public meeting. 

A tent may also be designated for exhibiting 
charts, books, pictures, paraphernalia, etc., showing 
the organization and workings of boys' clubs such as 
the K. O. K. A., men's clubs, women's clubs, etc. 
In fact, any organization that would tend to promote 
health, intelligence, and happiness; for one purpose 

26 



of this great day is to suggest, stimulate, and give 
immediate and practical aid in all possible direc- 
tions to all people. 

Some may want to set aside a tent for showing 
exhibits of home-made bread and cake, of home- 
made candy, of needle-work and of home-grown 
flowers or vegetables. Prizes might be awarded, 
not for the best, but to all who have attained a cer- 
tain standard of excellence in producing the article 
exhibited. Those who would like to investigate 
these matters further are invited to correspond with 
the author, who is ready to submit score cards and 
make other suggestions. Some children might wish 
to exhibit poultry of their own raising. If so, give 
them a chance to do it. 

g. Prepare a kit of tools, hammers, nails, tacks, 
screws, screw eyes and hooks, saw, mallet, axe, 
twine, stout cord, odds and ends of ropes, in short, 
anything and everything that you think may be 
needed by the exigencies of the day. A marking 
brush and ink may come handy for putting up 
notices. No telling what may happen or what needs 
may spring up. The managers should be prepared 
for everything. ''Semper paratus" is a good motto. 

h. Engage two or three men and a horse and 
wagon for the day. They will be needed. 

i. Have the lime and apparatus for marking out 
courts or indicating division lines, in good order. 
Thus a half barrel of dry lime with a Dry Tennis 
Marker, and a half barrel of liquid lime with a 
"wet marker" such as the Duplex Tennis Marker 
or the Columbia Tennis Marker, should be at hand. 
These markers may be obtained of A. G. Spalding & 
Brothers, New York City, or the Narragansett 

27 



Machine Company, Providence, R. I., at an expense 
of about $1.50, $2.50, and $3.50 respectively. 

j. Arrange as rich and varied a program of plays 
and games as possible. Here are some of the ap- 
paratus games that may be provided, and, by the 
way, it is entirely feasible to transport this material 
from one place to another and institute a Field 
Day and Play Picnic in any community or section 
at short notice. It is by no means necessary to have 
finely appointed athletic grounds, or closely cropped 
lawns ; any fairly level field from which the grass 
or hay has been cut, and which borders a fairly good 
country road will do. 

The games are given in alphabetic order and not 
necessarily in the order of their importance. Most 
of these may be found indexed in the A. G. Spald- 
ing & Bros. Trade List or in the catalog of the 
Narragansett Machine Company. 

Archery 

Badminton 

Baseball Tether ball, or Tether tennis 

Basketball Volley Ball 

Bean bags, or Oat bags 

Clock golf 

Croquet 

Diabolo 

Hockey, or Shinny 

Indoor baseball 

Lawn Bowls 

Playground ball 

Quoits 

Tennis 

If a stream of water, pond or lake is near, pro- 
vision may be made for rowing, swimming, wading, 
sailing toy boats, and fishing. 

Apparatus such as Giant Strides, Swings, See- 
saws, Teeter ladders, Horizontal bars. Climbing 

29 



ropes or poles, self-propelled merry-go-rounds, and 
circle bars may be provided without very great ex- 
pense. Also, a piece of apparatus known as the 
Playground slide which is sure to be exceedingly 
popular and in continual use. It should be em- 
phasized here that all games and all apparatus pre- 
pared for a Play Picnic should be of a kind which 
requires active eifort on the part of the children. A 
merry-go-round, for instance, propelled by ma- 
chinery would be entirely out of place. The pur- 
pose of the day is to have active play and partici- 
pation in stirring occupations, not mere amusement. 
Guard against anything which tends to make a 
Coney Island of the day. 

k. Let the field events be planned and carried out 
by those who have had experience and are expert 
in this kind of work. Call on the County Secre- 
taries of the Y. M. C. A. for help in this particular. 

1. The singing of patriotic songs is appropriate, 
as are flag drills and flag salutes. Send out one or 
both of the following salutes and propose that the 
pupils of each school memorize the one preferred, 
and as each school comes on the grounds the chil- 
dren might march up to the flag in a body and salute 
it as a preliminary to the day's enjoyment. It makes 
no difference whether there are spectators at hand 
to see them do this, or not ; the idea is not for show 
but for patriotism. Here are the flag salutes: 

1. "We give our Heads and our Hearts to God 
and our Country. One Country ! One Language ! 
One Flag!" {Written by Col. George A. Balch, 
U. S. A.) 

2. 'T pledge allegiance to my Flag, and the Re- 
public for which it stands — one nation, indivisible, 

30 



with liberty and justice for all." {Youth's Com- 
panion.) 

Perhaps some will wish to have the raising and 
lowering of the flag attended by some simple cere- 
mony for the purpose of inculcating respect and 
reverence for the national emblem. This beautiful 
practice has already been adopted in many schools 
and was doubtless suggested by the custom of our 
soldiers and sailors. Thus, at Army posts and on 
warships soldiers and marines present arms when 
the flag is being raised or lowered; officers not on 
duty, and civilians, uncover their heads while the 
band plays ''America" at the raising and ''The Star 
Spangled Banner" at the lowering of the flag. The 
flag is not allowed to touch the ground or floor but 
is respectfully received into some one's arms. 

m. Let everything be done in the most informal 
and unprofessional way. Avoid hiring brass bands, 
or introducing claptrap devices for amusements. 
Let the occasion be simply a gathering of the clans 
for a joyous day of play in the open air. The pur- 
poses of the day and an excellent program are 
shown in the following: 



31 



SECOND ANNUAL FIELD DAY AND PLAY 
PICNIC 

—of the— 

Country Schools of Ulster Co., N. Y., on State 

Normal School Grounds, New Paltz, 

N. Y., June 8, 1907. 



All games and events, except the Field Day Cham- 
pionship Events, are open to every child, city chil- 
dren excepted. No registration or previous notice 
is needed. Each child should feel that this field 
day is instituted for his or her special benefit. All 
should take part in as many games and other open 
events as they can without injuring themselves. 

The Country School Athletic League emphasizes 
the value of play. It holds that properly supervised 
play is one of the important concerns of every house- 
hold, of every school, and of every community. 
Play makes for health and contentment : it aids in 
the development of a wholesome social spirit, and of 
a more kindly community life; it stirs the mind to 
keen activity and trains the individual to take the 
initiative, to act promptly and energetically, and to 
co-operate for the good of all. To bring many of 
our country communities into pleasant social con- 
tact, and to give our people, young and old, oppor- 
tunity to participate in time honored sports and 
amusements, to learn new and inspiring games, and 
to become acquainted with good, practicable meth- 
ods of physical training, is the purpose of our Field 
Day. 

33 



Program 

THE ASSEMBLY (10.30 A. M.) 

Flag raising, with marching, flag salute, and patriotic 
songs. 

"My Country, 'Tis of Thee." 

Flag salute: "We give our Heads and our Hearts to 
God and our Country; one Country; one Language; one 
Flag." 

"Red, White and Blue." 

May Pole Dances by different schools. 



GROUP L (II A. M.) 

1. North campus — (a) Kindergarten children: 1. Honey 

pot, and other games. 2. Folk dances. 

All little children are invited to take part in 
these games. Assistants will be at hand to teach 
the beginners, 
(b) 12 pound shot-put. All over 115 pound class. 

2. Tennis court — Captain Ball. 8th grade girls, New 

Paltz; Miss Dickinson, umpire. (Easily learned, 
watch it.) 

3. South campus— (a) Running high jump. Adults. 

(b) Running broad jump. 115 pound class. 

4. Upper road — (a) 50 yards dash. 80 pound class. 

Trials. 

(b) 60 yards dash. 95 pound class. Trials. 



GROUP IL (11.30.) 

I. North campus— (a) Primary children: 1, Singing 
games — Open wide the garden gate, the Cuckoo. 
Led by Miss Florence Miller and Miss Helena Mc- 
Govern. 
(b) 12 pound shot-put. Adults. 

3. Tennis court — Potato race. For girls only, (a) Girls 
under 10; (b) girls over 10. (Schools may chal- 
lenge one another.) 

?4 



3. South campus — (a) Running broad jump. 80 pound 

class. 

(b) Running high jump. 95 pound class. 

4. Upper road — (a) 70 yards dash. 115 pound class. 

Trials. 

(b) 100 yards dash. All over 115 pound class. 

Trials. 

5. Lower road — Potato spearing race on horseback. 

Open to all riders. 

Intermission 

LUNCH. Opportunity for rowing on the river. 

At 1 P. M., Military Drill — ^Knights of King Arthur, 
Huguenot Chapter, New Paltz, N. Y., and Delta Sigma 
boys. 

At 1.15 P. M., Demonstration of singing games and 
folk dances by Normal Seniors. 

GROUP in. (1.30 p. M.) 

1. North campus — (a) Prisoners base. Match game 

between Butterville and Ohioville schools. Other 
schools may challenge one another. Two halves of 
ten minutes each will be played. 

2. Tennis court — (a) Primary children. (1) Here we 

come gathering boughs of May. (2) Three deep. 
Led by Miss Florence Crowther and Miss Glendora 
Allen. (3) Miscellaneous games by the younger 
children of visiting schools. 

3. South campus — (a) Baseball throwing (girls). 

4. Lower road — (a) Tug of war (adults). 

5. Upper road — (a) 50 yards dash. 80 pound class. 

Finals. 

(b) 60 yards dash. 95 pound class. Finals. 

(c) 220 yards dash. All over 115 pound class. 

GROUP IV. (2 P. M.) 

I. North campus — (a) Games for little children: 1. 
London bridge. 2. The jolly miller. 3. Fishes swim, 
&c. Led by Miss Miller and Miss McGoveri;, 

?5 



2. Tennis court — Flag relay races for girls of the 7th 

and 8th grades of all schools. Conducted by Miss 
Mabel Krause and Miss Elizabeth Dee. 

3. South campus — Running broad jump. Adults. 

4. Upper road — (a) 70 yards dash. 115 pound class. 

Finals, 

(b) 100 yards dash. All over 115 pound class. 

Finals. 

GROUP V. (2.30 P. M.) 

1. North campus — (a) Prisoners base. Match game be- 

tween Highland and New Paltz girls. Two halves 

of ten minutes each. 

(b) 8 pound shot-put. 115 pound class. 

2. Tennis court — (a) Basketball relay races. 5th and 

6th grade girls led by Miss Olive Rasmussen and 

Miss Mary Barney. 

(b) Relay races by teams from visiting schools. 

3. South campus— Running high jump. All over 115 

pound class. 

4. Upper road — 100 yards dash. Adults. 

GROUP VI. (3 P. M.) 

1. North campus — Miscellaneous games open to all: 

Volley ball, Tether ball, Badminton, Playground 
ball. Quoits, Ring toss. Archery. 

2. Lower road — (a) 360 yards relay race, 4 boys on a 

team, 80 pound class. 

(b) 440 yards relay race, 4 boys on a team, 95 
pound class. 

(c) 880 yards relay race, 4 boys on a team, 115 
pound class. 

(d) 880 yards relay race, 4 boys on a team, all over 
115 pound class. 

GROUP VII. (3.45 P. M.) 

1. Lower road— (a) Bicycle race. Boys. 

(b) Bicycle race. Girls. 

2. Tennis court — Obstacle race. 

The program will be interspersed by folk dances, 

36 



given by groups of girls and boys in costume, wan- 
dering as bands of merrymal^ers about the grounds. 
If time permits, impromptu games of baseball will 
be arranged. 

Athletic badges and banners will be awarded after 
the obstacle race. 

Winners will assemble at the tennis court for this 
purpose. 

The above program was participated in by about 
3,000 people, of whom more than one-half were 
school children. Where smaller numbers are ex- 
pected a less elaborate program will suffice. 

n. For each game have two or more leaders who 
shall superintend it, care for the apparatus, teach 
beginners, act as referee, etc. Each leader should 
have a generous corps of helpers, the latter to serve 
only an hour or so, for naturally everyone wants a 
lot of free time on a day like this. It is absolutely 
essential that a large squad of helpers be trained 
for the work of the day. Herein lies the success of 
an occasion like this. There should be one or more 
general supervisors, too, to whom the children may 
go and inquire "What can I do next?" and receive a 
prompt reply. 

It may not be well to have the annual Field Day 
of a county held always in the same place. Let it 
move to different parts of the County wherever there 
is prospect of its being well taken care of by diose 
of the immediate vicinity. 

Class or Group Athletics Record. 

To keep alive the athletic interests of a County 
or community and to promote preparation for Field 
Day, it is well to have as general an introduction as 
possible of the following scheme of athletics, taken 

37 







































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CLASS OR GROUP ATHLETICS RECO 

COUNTRY SCHOOL ATHLETIC LEAGUE, ULSTER COUNTY, 
TEACHERS NAME 


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DC a 

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S9?'I0I '9061 po^^naa'B,! iiO'BO 'saA'B9i ui saioq pn-e japuig: 
'A 'M 'JcaiJsaTiooa 'uoii^BJodJOO oiooK 'O uqof 



38 



from the blank used in the Country School Athletic 
League of Ulster County, N. Y. 

CLASS OR GROUP ATHLETICS. 

After the plan of 

W. J. Ballard, Ass't Director Physical Training, 
N. Y. City. 

CLASS OR GROUP ATHLETICS' is a device by which 
every boy may enter the athletic events prescribed, viz., chin- 
ning, .iuraping- and running, and, if he does his best, feel that 
he is helping his class to win. 

In Ibis form of athletics, a trophy is won or a record 
is made not by the individual record of a boy, but by the average 
of the individual records of the boys in a class or group. 

The records are obtained as follows : 

CHINNING OR PULL UP. An inclined ladder is an 
ideal piece of apparatvis for this, or a bar may be fitted into 
a door-way or on the school grounds. The boy must pull himself 
up until his chin is over the bar, and then lower himself the 
full length of his arms. This he does as many times as he can. 
He must not touch the floor with his feet when he lowers him- 
self. The number of times he pulls himself up is his record. 
The class or group record is found by adding the individual 
records, and dividing by the number of boys entered. 

JUMPING. The boys are taken to a suitable place, 
and lined up in the order in which they are to jump. Each 
boy jumps, having three trials if he wishes, and his best jump 
is recorded. The class or group record is found as above. 

RUNNING. The distances for graded schools are : 5th 
yr., 40 yds. ; 6th yr., 50 yds. ; 7th yr., 60 yds. ; 8th yr., 80 
yds. ; for ungraded schools the distance will be 50 yds. 

In some schools a large number of boys will run. Long 
before the records of any such number of boys can be taken, 
most stop-watches will give out. On this account the following 
method has been adopted : 

The boys are lined up in the order in which they are 
to run. The timer, who acts also as starter, stands by the 
finishing line, his watch in his left hand and his handkerchief 
in his right hand. When ready he slowly raises his handker- 
chief, then waves it downward with a quick movement, at 
the same time starting his watch ; this is the signal for Boy 
No. 1 to start and for No. 2 to step up to the starting line. 
As Boy No. 1 nears the finishing line, the timer raises the hand- 
kerchief slowly as a warning to No. 2, and at the instant No. 1 
crosses the finishing line, the handkerchief is again quickly 
waved downward, No. 2 starts and No. .3 steps to the starting 
line. In the same way every boy is started, and as the last 
boy crosses the finishing line the watch is stopped. The record 
is found by dividing the elapsed time as shown by the watch, 
by the number of boys that race. 

39 



If an ordinary watch is used, start tlie first boy when 
the second hand is over the sixty mark, and proceed as before. 

TROPHIES will be awarded by the Country School 
Athletic League for the best class records in graded schools, and 
for the best group record in ungraded schools, in chinning, 
JUMPING, and RUNNING. SouvENiES will be given to each 
member of the winning group. 



REGULATIONS 



In ungraded schools all boys above 10 years old are in- 
cluded as eligibles. In graded schools those in the fifth grade 
and above are eligible. 

For any class or school to enter for a trophy, not less 
than 75% of the boys enrolled for the month in which the 
record is taken, must take part. The number taking part must 
not be less than 8. 

Schools so small that each grade does not contain as 
many as 8 boys compete as ungraded schools : i. e., the school 
as a whole, including all boys above 10 years old, form a single 
competing group. 

Events will occur as follows : 

Standing broad jump, in the fall. 
Chinning, in the winter. 
Running, in the spring. 
Records are to be sent in to the chairman of the central 
committee of the Country School Athletic League, care of State 
Normal School, New Paltz, N. Y., as follows : 

Standing broad jump, not later than December 1st. 
Chinning, not later than March 1st. 
Running, not later than June 1st. 



SUGGESTIONS 

Have class trials occasionally before taking final records. 
They will arouse interest in the contests. 

Encourage the boys to practice by themselves in the 
yard, on the street, at home, or elsewhere. 

Write the boys' names upon the blackboard, if you have 
the space ; if not, write the names upon a sheet of paper and 
pin it up. Enter the boys' records as they bring them to you. 

A woman should not be afraid to take hold of this 
form of athletics. It is not how far the boys can jump ; it is 
getting them to want to jump. This a Avoman can do as well 
as a man, perhaps better. 

A limited number of blanks of this kind as well 
as of those mentioned elsewhere may be obtained at 
small cost of the State Normal School, New Paltz, 
N. Y. Or a sample will be sent on receipt of return 
postage. 

40 



III. ATHLETICS AND PLAY STANDARDS 
FOR GIRLS 

The question of competitive athletics and games 
for girls is a vexed one, and although it is impos- 
sible as yet to reach such a general agreement in 
regard to it as has been accorded to the standards 
proposed for boys by Doctor Gulick, yet many feel 
that some sort of a beginning must be made, be it 
ever so crude, and let the plan be subjected to ex- 
periment and criticism to the end that a better 
scheme may eventually be devised. 

The fact, too, that school girls are pressing for 
recognition in badge competition contests would in- 
dicate that the time is ripe for action, and as the 
country girls in Ulster County in particular have 
been very pronounced in their insistence, owing to 
the interest which has grown out of the systematic 
efforts in behalf of play and athletics in that County, 
Miss Anna M. Morgan, Physical Director in the 
New Paltz Normal School, was requested to draw 
up a plan for the Country School Athletic League. 
She has done so with such encouraging success that 
her plan is submitted in this manual with an honest- 
ly extended invitation for criticism and suggestion, 
all of which wih be gratefully received. 



PLAYS AND GAMES AND BADGE COMPE- 
TITION EVENTS FOR GIRLS 
of the 

Country School Athletic League, Ulster 
County, N. Y. 

by 

Anna M. Morgan 

Director of Physical Training, New Pahz, N. Y. 

The play life of the individual may be classified 
into three periods — infancy, childhood, and adoles- 
cence. Doctor Gulick says "The games of the first 
period, from birth to seven or eight are non-co- 
operative. Kindergarten children play side by side 
in pairs, rarely spontaneously or in groups. They 
are gregarious rather than social." 

'Tlays between the ages of seven and twelve are 
social, co-operative, and competitive but each child 
usually plays for himself." 

"After twelve years, the group games with oppos- 
ing sides are more popular and finally tend to 
crowd out all others." 

The list of games given below accords with this 
classification, though of course it does not follow 
that games suggested in the first group may not 
be played in the second group, while many of the 
games of the second group are still enjoyed by 
children playing the games of the third group. 
This is especially true when the repertory of games 
is not large. As children become more skillful in 
play the period from 12 or 13 on becomes dis- 
tinctively the group game period. 

43 



Ever since the organization of the Country School 
Athletic League of Ulster County, there has been 
a growing demand on the part of the girls for 
membership in the organization and they have been 
quite ready to run, chin, and jump in order that they 
too might win a button. But of course the stand- 
ards prescribed for boys do not meet the needs of 
the girls. The girl's outdoor habits are very differ- 
ent from her brother's. She responds less readily 
to her physical environment and all too frequently 
gives up playing when she is most in need of it. To 
prolong the play period by encouraging a partici- 
pation in outdoor exercise is what the girl most 
needs, and in an endeavor to meet this need and to 
open to girls a rational way to membership in the 
Country School Athletic League, Mr. Scudder's 
suggestion has been adopted of putting their com- 
petition on the basis of certain games classified 
under the three following heads: (a) running and 
jumping, (b) striking, and (c) throwing. This 
suggestion grew out of the following considerations, 
namely, that in a study of our popular games, as 
has been pointed out, practically every game is 
founded on one or more of these forms of activity, 
running and jumping, striking, throwing. Primi- 
tive man struggled for existence. Those who 
did not excel in these achievements were no match 
for their surroundings, and ceased to exist. The 
"fittest" who survived were those in whose nervous 
organism was ingrained a predisposition to these 
fundamental activities. This is the child's "savage 
inheritance," and because of this inheritance, chil- 
dren may be expected to experience the keenest de- 
light in the games of pursuit whose beginnings are 
traced to prehistoric hunts and warfare. Indeed, 
the child who has no chance to play games involving 

44 



wholesome inherited instincts, misses a most potent 
stimulus not only for mental growth but for moral 
status as well. 

A scheme for competition may well be founded, 
therefore, in part at least, on such a classification 
of games as we have referred to, each competitor 
being required to show ability to play a certain 
number of games, fairly balanced between the 
classes, and to be scored on her play as will be in- 
dicated later. But in addition to these three great 
classes or divisions two other classes of valuable ex- 
ercises are "indicated, one of outdoor sports, and the 
other of exercises which appeal especially to the dra- 
matic and rhythmic sense and to a fine degree of 
muscular co-ordination. From these also, selections 
are to be made as stated below. 

The classification is as follows : 

Group I (Children 7 or 8 years old and under). 

This group is not competitive but is a suggestive list 
of games for the younger children, to provide for their 
physical needs, and eventually to prepare them to par- 
ticipate intelligently in groups II and III. 

Oat and Mouse 

Charlie Over the Water 

Chickamy, Chickamy, Crany, Crow 

Come with Me 

Fishes Swim 

Garden Scamp 

Hare in the Patch 

Hide and Seek 

Honey Pots 

Old Witch 

Puss in the Corner 

Steps 

45 



The Beetle 

The Miller 

Twelve O'clock at Night 

Witch in the Jar 

Singing Games 

Did You Ever See a Lassie 

Drop the Handkerchief 

Farmer in the Dell 

Go Round and Round the Village 

Here We Come Gathering Boughs of May 

Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush 

Jenny Jones 

Jolly Miller 

London Bridge 

Needle's Eye 

Oats, Peas, Beans and Barley Grow 

Open Wide the Garden Gate 

When I was a Shoemaker 

Many of the singing games in this hst are enjoyed 
by children of intermediate grades quite as well as 
by primary children. This list may be increased 
from Miss Hofer's "Singing Games, Old and New" 
and ''Popular Folk Games and Dances." The 
games mentioned, with few exceptions, are de- 
scribed in Miss Hofer's books. The books also fur- 
nish material for the exercises under Class 5 of each 
Group : 



46 



Group II. 
Class 1 

Games in which running and jumping predominate. 
Beetle or Whip Tag London Loo 

Bull in the Ring Pom, Pom, Pull Away 

Catch of Fish Prisoner's Base 

Center Base Red Lion 

Day and Night Robber Barons (Stealing 

Fox and Chickens Sticks) 

Ham, Ham, Chicken Ham, Sheepfold 

Bacon * Single Relay Race 

King's Run Three Deep 

Last Pair Pass Wolf 

Link Choose Yards Off 

Class 2 Class 3 

Games in which throwing Games in which striking 
predominates. predominates. 

Boundary Ball Tennis 

Dodge Ball Tether tennis 

Duck on a Rock Croquet 

Horseshoe Quoits Ping Pong 

Lawn Bowls Driving the Pig to Market 

Ring Base Volley Ball 

*Ring Toss or Bean Bag Toss Modified forms of the or- 

Ten Pins ganized games as 

One Old Cat 

Two Old Cat, for baseball 
Shinney for hockey 

Class 4 Class 5 

Outdoor recreations Balancing (Diabolo might 

Archery well come in here). 

Bicycling Dramatic and rhythmic exer- 
Climbing trees, ropes, poles, cises 

ladders Folk Dances 

Horseback riding Singing Games 
Swimming 

Note : The starred games must he included in the selectioji. 

Group III. 
Class 1 
Games in which running predominates. 
Cross Tag Racing Tag 

Follow Tag Robber Barons 

47 



Hockey * Shuttle Relay Race 

Prisoner's Base Yards Off 

Glass 2 Glass 3 

Games in which throwing Games in which striking 

predominates. predominates. 

Basket Ball Croquet 

Battle Ball Hand Ball 

Basket Ball Throwing Playground Ball 

Captain's Ball Tennis 

Corner Ball Tether Tennis 

Duck on a Rock Volley Ball 

Glass 4 Glass 5 

Outdoor recreations Balancing 

Bicycling Rhythmic Exercises 

Canoeing Folk Dances 

Horseback Riding Singing Games 

Rowing 
Sailing 
Skating 
Skeeing 
Snow Shoeing 
Swimming 

Note : Tlie starred games must he included in the selection. 



Many games of Group II are continued in Group 
III, the favorite one being Prisoner's Base. This 
game admirably connects the second and third 
groups. Robber Barons^ Yards Off, in fact nearly 
all the games in Class I are transitional games. 

This collection of games has been found practical. 
It is by no means exhaustive but can be readily sup- 
plemented from Doctor Johnson's "Education by 
Plays and Games," Doctor Arnold's ''Gymnastic 
Games Classified" and Mr. A. M. Chesley's "Indoor 
and Outdoor Gymnastic Games" from which publi- 
cation many of the games were selected. 

A list of other excellent compilations of games 
is given elsewhere. 

48 




<i a 



REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE ATH- 
LETIC BADGE COMPETITION 
FOR GIRLS 

In order that there may be a systematic basis of 
procedure, the following standards of eligibility for 
girls have been tentatively adopted by the Country 
School Athletic League. 

A. Girls above the fourth grade, or girls from 
10 to ij years of age, inclusive. 

Any girl of this class is a badge winner who sus- 
tains the attendance, scholarship, and deportment 
governing membership, in the Country School Ath- 
letic League, and, in addition, is able to play from 
GROUP II four running games, tzvo throwing 
games, tzvo striking games, and to show skill in the 
practice of one outdoor sport and one of the exer- 
cises mentioned in Class 5. 

B. Girls from the High School, or girls from 14 
years old and upwards. 

Girls from this class shall select from GROUP 
III two running games, tzvo throwing games, tzvo 
striking games, one outdoor sport, and tzvo of the 
exercises mentioned in Class 5. While it is desir- 
able that all girls take part in the Field Day pro- 
grams given under the auspices of the League, it 
must be borne in mind that only those zvho are zvin- 
ners of an Athletic Badge or Button can take part 
in the competition games for zvhich pennants are 
azvarded. 

The competition for the Athletic Badge or But- 
ton will be judged as follows: 

Games — ^(Classes 1-3). 

Knowledge of games 20 points 

50 




1^2 



H a--:: 



Bg 



^ 



Is 



ass 
PW 'CM 

15 «» 

^ O 



Ability to play 20 points 

Courage (5) 

Skill (5) 

Co-prdination (5) 

Reaction (5) 
Co-operation 20 points 

Outdoor Recreations (Class 4) 10 points 

Folk Dancing, &c. (Class 5) 

Memory 10 points 

Form and Grace 10 points 

Spirit 10 points 

Pupils will be judged (scored) as to their pro- 
ficiency, by their principal or teacher, assisted by 
tzvo judges nominated by said teacher and approved 
by the Central Committee. Or they may be judged 
by a referee appointed by the Central Committee. 

A statement from the teacher declaring the pupil's 
proficiency in any one sport selected from Class 
4 will be accepted. 

The above scoring table gives a maximum of lOO 
points. The individual members of a class winning 
75 points are awarded buttons. 

Girls competing for the Elementary Badge or 
Button must include in their selection of games the 
Single Relay Race and Bean Bag Toss. In the 
single relay each contestant must run 50 yards, i. e., 
the goal must be 25 yards from the start. The 
average for the class must not exceed nine seconds. 

For the Bean Bag Toss a bag shall be provided 
weighing not less than two pounds, and a circle 
six feet in diameter must be drawn. The throw is 
made from a line 20 feet from the circle. The con- 
testants line up back of this line. In succession, 
with advanced toe on the line, each contestant has 
two throws. A bag falling within the circle counts 
one point. The group must make a record of at 
least 75%. 

Girls competing for the High School Badge shall 

52 



include in their selection of games the Shuttle Relay 
Race, and Basket Ball throwing. 

For the basket ball throw a six-foot circle, with 
a heavy line across its center is drawn at one of the 
throwing space. The thrower toes this line and in 
completing her throw she must not fall or step over 
the line in front of her. If this is done, it consti- 
tutes a foul, and a second trial is given. Fouling 
in the second trial excludes the contestant from the 
competition. The throwing space shall be divided 
by three cross lines measuring from the front of 
the circle as follows : 20 feet, 25 feet, and 30 feet. 
The class average must be at least 25 feet. 

In the Shuttle Relay Race each contestant must 
run 60 yards. The class average must not exceed 
10 seconds. 

Additional Trophies for Ungraded Schools 

In addition to these awards, trophies will be given 
to any ungraded school, having at least 10 enrolled 
pupils (Girls) who meet the following requirements 
from GROUP II, namely, ability to play ^li' games 
selected from Class i, three games from Class 2, 
and three games from Class j, also skill in the prac- 
tice of three sports from Class 4 and three of the 
exercises mentioned in Class 5. 

Trophies will also be given to any school in which 
there are not less than 20 girls of 14 years of age 
and upwards, each of whom can play, from Group 
III, three games in Class i, three games in Class 2, 
and three games in Class J, and who will show skill 
in the practice of three outdoor sports selected from 
Class 4 and three of the exercises mentioned in 
Class 5. 

Competitions for school trophies will be judged 
bv the standards fixed for the athletic badge com- 
petition. 

53 



OCT 30 1908 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



020 237 002 



